Automatic motor control unit



O K Jan. 26, 1960 w. w. HENSLER ETAL 2,922,941

AUTOMATIC MOTOR CONTROL UNIT Filed Dec. 21, 1955 20 D I4 l8 3s ll 17 United at tentO 1 Claim. (Cl. 318-207) Ihis invention relates generally to systems for rotating radio or television antennas, and more particularly it rethere is no particular problem. vided with two or more television receivers and a single directional antenna, it then becomes necessary to provide a 'means. of controlling rotation of the antenna from each individual :rec'eiver.v It is conventional vide socket means at each is to provide an antenna rotating system, wherein a control head may be located permanently at each television receiver.

Another object of the invention is to provide an antenna rotating trol head operable to exercise sole and complete control of the antenna.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an antenna rotating system for controlling an antenna from a 2,922,941 Patented .J an. 26, 1960 2 Referring to the drawings, this invention is applicable where For example, a home 10 may have a first receiver 11 located in a first floor room, a second receiver 12 located in the basement, and a third 16 and its rotating motor 17. 17 from each receiver, there are provided at each receiver, control heads 18, 19, and 20, each of which may be coupled into the motor control conductors within cable 15. By means of this arrangeerated and the of the receivers.

Referring to Fig. 2, there are provided the control heads 18, 19, and Each of structures of heads 19 and 20 are identical therewith. The head 18 includes a transformer, the primary 22 of which may be connected to a commercial source of power 23 through a single-pole, double-throw section 24 of a motor reversing switch 25.

The secondary winding 26 of the transformer may be connected to either of the conductors 27 and 28 of cable 15 through a. second single-pole, double-throw section 29 of reversing switch 25. i e secondary winding 26 may also be connected to a common return conducto'r 30. A tap may be taken off an mtermediate point 31 of second.- ary winding 26 and connected through an indicator 32 to conductor 33 of cable 1 This control head may be considered as a main control head since it performs no switching function and is the control head which normally exercises control of the antenna motor.

Control head 18 may be connected through conductors 27, 28, and 3 to the normally closed contacts 35, 36., and 37, respectively, of a relay switch 38. The tongues 39, 40, and 41 of switch 38, through cable 15 with normally 42, 43, and 44 of a second relay switch 45. The tongues 46, 47, i may, in turn, be connected by cable 17 in one direction or the other depending upon the position gized from the seco'ndary in head 19.

The electrolytic capacitors 56, 57, and 58 are utilized for the purpose of energizing switch 38 from either of the lines 53 and 54 without the need of making switch '38 a polarized relay. Capacitors 56, 57, and 58 are also de- Controihead20 is connected to the normally open 1 contacts of switch 45 in identically the same manner as described in connection with control head 19. Accordingly, no detailed description of this circuit is deemed to be necessary; I

In operation, it'may first-he assumed thatitis desired to operate television receiver- 11; Switch- 2 5-n'1ay-be oper ated to close the power circuit through primaryrwindingu 22 through section 24 thereof, while-section 29"connects secondary 26 with either'conductor 27 orconductor 28. Indicator 32 will show the direction of rotation of antenna motor '17 and antenna 16 and if'thetelevisio'n signal appears to decrease in intensity, switch :25 may be operated' to reversemotor 17 When the maximum signal is attained, switch 25 may be'opened to stop: motor-"17.

If it is'desired to operate television receiver s l2 or then control heads 19 or ated to rotate I antenna reversing switch 25 closes a circuit from transformer secondary'26' through conductors 53 or 54', capacitors or 57, capacitor 58-, the winding of relay 38,-andjcon-j du'ctdrs 59 and 30, respectively, back"to' sec ndary "26-.

.Relay switch '38 is energized to close tongues 39 40am contacts 50, 51; and" 2; respec 18' is disconnected at the open and motor 1'7 is controlled from 41 with normally open tively. Control head contacts 35,736, and 37, switch scribed in connection with controlhea'd 18; Since control head 19 automatically disconnects control head 18,

there can be no damage to controlhead 18 even'though a second person may attempt to ciated therewith. a 4

Control head 20 may be operated to energize relay switch 45 opening co'ntacts 42, 43, and 44 and closing the normally open contacts connected with the head 20.

tune in receiver 11 assjo I 20, respectively, may be 'oper'-' 16. It maybe assumed thatcdn trol head-19-is operated and-in thisca'se operation ofits l i "This; eontmrheaazo" may beurinzeeteeemrei-nierer 17 f om r c v r .1 As n hecas i h 192m v rela switch 34 disconnects heads 18 and 19 so that attempted operation of these disconnected heads cannot cause any damage to them.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that this invention provides anantenna-rotating system, wherein an antenna-rotating motor may be controlled 1 from any one ofajnumberiofrernotepoints;- Thesystem includes facilities which 'motor having a pair of coupled to 0f power to' either one of said windings,. and a relay switch means including norma ly closed contacts coupled to-said first control head-antiperof control head'1 9 in the'same'manneras de- I mally opencontactsicoupled to said second-control head,- saidrelay means including switching tongues coupledJto said; windings and normally closed with said normally closed contacts, and'a relay winding'coupled' to tsaid reve'r sing switch means of said second head-for-energization thereby too'p'en said-normally closed contaetsand-to close saidnor'm'ally open contacts; 1

7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 

